Isaac Paredes happy to be a Whitecap

COMSTOCK PARK — Acquired in a trade for Detroit Tigers’ catcher Alex Avila and pitcher Justin Wilson along with third-base prospect Jeimer Candelario, 18-year-old Isaac Paredes didn’t have the greatest debut for the West Michigan Whitecaps.

In the fourth inning of the Midwest League game against the Lake County Captains on Monday, July 31, Paredes took a ball to the face trying to field it and left the game for precautionary reasons.

He was back in the lineup the next night, despite sporting a bit of a black eye. He was 1-for-2 with one run scored and two RBIs in his debut for the Whitecaps at shortstop.

“He’s really proud to be here, he didn’t expect the call, but the people have treated him real well and this couple of moments, he feels real happy here,” Paredes said through team translator Francisco Contreras.

A native of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Paredes was in his first full season in the Midwest League with the Chicago Cubs’ affiliate, the South Bend Cubs.

He played in 92 games, batting .265 with a .344 on-base percentage in 339 at-bats. He had 49 RBIs, seven home runs, 25 doubles and 50 runs scored on 90 hits.

“He can play, he’s young, good swing, I was watching him in the cage, soft hands, I don’t really know much because we saw him in April, that was a long time ago,” Whitecaps manager Mike Rabelo said. “I saw him work out today before he got cleared to be in the lineup and he’s got some tools.”

Against the Whitecaps in April in a four-game series 5-for-15 with three runs scored, one RBI and two doubles and a three-game series, he was 1-for-13 with two RBIs and one walk.

He’ll play his former team later in August in two separate series at Fifth Third Ballpark and in South Bend.

“(It’s) going to feel a little bit weird, (I) never thought about it, but (I’m) going to go there and do (my) best for the Tigers,” Paredes said.

Coming over he said he doesn’t feel a whole lot of pressure and said that fans should expect 100 percent effort and he’s always going to try his best.

He was signed to a minor-league contract by the Cubs in June of 2016 and played in the Arizona Fall League, named a Post-Season All-Star. He played in 47 games, scoring 23 runs, bringing in 26 batters with one home run and 14 doubles and 51 hits in 167 plate attempts with a .305 batting average.

“(I’m) really thankful for the way they treated (me), they taught (me) a lot and (I) learned a lot and made good friends, it was a good experience,” Paredes said.

He joins an infield crowded with talent, including Anthony Pereira and Danny Pinero, all of whom have played at shortstop.

Despite the crowded infield, Rabelo plans on playing Paredes at shortstop for a majority of the games with Pereira moving in and out.

“It’ll be the merry-go-round of guys moving around the horn, but Paredes will play a majority of games at shortstop,” Rabelo said.

Paredes plans on improving his mental game and working on his physique he said but feels best when he’s hitting.

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